Project Manager - Design

SCALIS; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Holidays

Flexible Work Arrangements

Vision Insurance

Job summary

Nova Sky Stories in Utrecht is seeking a highly organized Project Manager - Design to guide drone-entertainment projects from ideation through execution within our creative studio.

You’ll shape ideas, build timelines, coordinate internal teams and external partners, and keep work moving to meet milestones.

This embedded PM ensures the creative process runs smoothly, freeing the team to focus on storytelling and design.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a creative production, project management, or producer role within animation, film, games, live entertainment, or similar industries.
• Strong understanding of creative pipelines (concept → storyboard → production → delivery) and how to support each phase.
• Experience working closely with creative teams and understanding how to support (not control) the creative process.
• Proven ability to manage timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Experience coordinating with external partners or vendors (e.g., studios, freelancers, production support).
• Strong communication skills, especially in navigating feedback and aligning different perspectives.
• Ability to operate independently, bringing structure and clarity without needing heavy direction.
• Ideally Dutch-speaking, with strong written and verbal English skills required.

Responsibilities

• Guide creative projects from early concept through execution, helping move ideas from broad exploration into clear direction.
• Build and manage timelines across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring key creative milestones stay on track.
• Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate project risks, dependencies, and roadblocks before they impact delivery.
• Coordinate across internal teams (design, animation, production) and external partners (audio, vendors, freelancers, etc.) to bring projects to life.
• Act as the connective tissue between teams, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and visibility across locations.
• Capture and communicate key decisions, feedback, action items, and next steps to maintain momentum and accountability.
• Anticipate the needs of the creative pipeline, understanding what comes before and after each phase of work and ensuring teams are prepared for upcoming deliverables.
• Remove friction from the process so creative leads can stay focused on storytelling, design, and execution.

Skills

Project management

Creative production

Producer

Animation

Film

Live entertainment

External partners

Communication

Dutch-speaking

English fluency

Job description

At Nova Sky Stories , we empower artists and producers to bring awe and wonder to live audiences around the world. As the global leader in drone entertainment , we've been redefining live shows for over a decade-merging cutting-edge drone technology with imaginative artistry.

With a veteran team of engineers and creatives, we design and operate lightweight, small, precise, and safe drones that perform in the most demanding environments-urban centers, extreme temperatures, and high winds. The result? Sky Stories that inspire, captivate, and transform the sky into a canvas of imagination.

Headquartered in the U.S. with teams across Europe and the U.A.E., Nova Sky Stories works with the world’s leading brands, venues, and events.
Follow us: @NovaSkyStories

About the job

About this role:

We're looking for a highly organized and creatively-minded Project Manager- Design to help bring original ideas to life within our Utrecht studio.

In this role, you'll partner closely with our creative team to guide projects from early ideation through execution - helping shape how ideas evolve, keeping momentum strong, and ensuring the right people, resources, and timing come together at the right moments.

This isn't a traditional project management role. You'll be embedded in the creative process - supporting brainstorming, helping narrow ideas into actionable paths, coordinating across internal teams and external partners, and ensuring nothing gets lost between concept and execution.

Your goal is to keep the creative team focused on creating - while you make sure everything around them runs smoothly.

As a Project Manager - Design, you'll be responsible for:

• Guide creative projects from early concept through execution, helping move ideas from broad exploration into clear direction.
• Build and manage timelines across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring key creative milestones (storyboarding, design, production, and delivery) stay on track.
• Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate project risks, dependencies, and roadblocks before they impact delivery.
• Coordinate across internal teams (design, animation, production) and external partners (audio, vendors, freelancers, etc.) to bring projects to life.
• Act as the connective tissue between teams, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and visibility across locations.
• Capture and communicate key decisions, feedback, action items, and next steps to maintain momentum and accountability.
• Anticipate the needs of the creative pipeline, understanding what comes before and after each phase of work and ensuring teams are prepared for upcoming deliverables.
• Remove friction from the process so creative leads can stay focused on storytelling, design, and execution.

You'll need to have:

• 5+ years of experience in a creative production, project management, or producer role within animation, film, games, live entertainment, or similar industries
• Strong understanding of creative pipelines (concept → storyboard → production → delivery) and how to support each phase
• Experience working closely with creative teams and understanding how to support (not control) the creative process
• Proven ability to manage timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Experience coordinating with external partners or vendors (e.g., studios, freelancers, production support)
• Strong communication skills, especially in navigating feedback and aligning different perspectives
• Ability to operate independently, bringing structure and clarity without needing heavy direction
• Ideally Dutch-speaking, with strong written and verbal English skills required.

What defines you:

• You're excited by the creative potential of drone technology and what's possible in this space
• You're a clear and confident communicator who can bring ideas to life and collaborate effectively
• You're highly collaborative, with strong interpersonal skills and a team-first mindset
• You're organized and adaptable, able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment
• You bring a proactive, "can-do" attitude and enjoy finding creative solutions to complex challenges
• You're comfortable working closely with teammates, clients, and external partners to deliver great work

Health Insurance

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Holidays

Flexible Work Arrangements

Vision Insurance